Belgium: Full HIV drug refund immediately after diagnosis

Starting in the beginning of 2017 people in Belgium will have the right for ARV drug refund immediately after HIV diagnosis.Currently the refund is limited only to patients with weak immune systems due to the disease.

The Belgium ministry of health will spend an additional €7.5 million a year from its budget to fund the new measure.

It is estimated that more than 1,000 people a year are infected with HIV in the country and the new policy will lead to a decrease in the number of new infections.

Some experts are also calling for refunds for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis medications (PrEP), especially among high-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM).